Carbon nanotube compositions and methods of making and using same

• US 8,803,094 B2
• Filed: 05/21/2013
• Issued: 08/12/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: University of Maryland, College Park
• Original Assignee: University of Maryland, College Park
• Inventors: Leeds, Jarrett, Wang, YuHuang, Fourkas, John T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Kiho
• Application Number:
  US13/899,052
• Publication Number:
  US 20130306870A1
• Time in Patent Office: 448 Days
• Field of Search: 25033901-33915
• US Class Current: 250/339.01
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 15/00 Printed matter of special format or style not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 30/00 Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites
• CPC Class Codes: C09D 11/324 containing carbon black
• CPC Class Codes: C09D 11/38 characterised by non-macromolecular additives other than solvents, pigments or dyes
• CPC Class Codes: C09D 11/52 Electrically conductive inks
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 11/65 containing carbon in organic compounds C09K11/06
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/28 Investigating the spectrum using colour filters G01J3/51
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/359 using near infrared light
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/75 Single-walled
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/842 for carbon nanotubes or fullerenes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24802 Discontinuous or differential coating, impregnation or bond [e.g., artwork, printing, retouched photograph, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24917 including metal layer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24926 including ceramic, glass, porcelain or quartz layer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24934 including paper layer

Abstract

Carbon nanotube compositions suitable for printing, methods of making carbon nanotube compositions, and substrates having a print thereon containing carbon nanotube compositions, and uses thereof. The carbon nanotubes of the compositions are individualized. The carbon nanotube compositions can be used in applications, such as document security.

Claims

1. A composition suitable for printing comprising a plurality of carbon nanotubes in an aqueous medium, said medium comprising a polyol and a surfactant, wherein the concentration of the nanotubes in the composition is at least 3.6 μ

g/L and at least 20% of the nanotubes are individually dispersed.

2. The composition of claim 1, wherein the carbon nanotubes are single-walled carbon nanotubes, multi-walled nanotubes, or a combination thereof.

3. The composition of claim 1, wherein the surfactant is anionic, cationic, nonionic, or a combination thereof.

4. The composition of claim 3, wherein the surfactant is an alkyl sulfonate or alkaryl sulfonate.

5. The composition of claim 1, wherein the polyol is a C₂ to C₁₀ linear or branched aliphatic polyol, a C₅ to C₃₀ cyclic or polycyclic aliphatic polyol, or a combination thereof.

6. The composition of claim 5, wherein the polyol is selected from the group consisting of sucrose, trehalose, glycerol, or a combination thereof.

7. The composition of claim 1, wherein the concentration of the polyol in the aqueous medium is 10 to 25% by weight.

8. The composition of claim 1, wherein the concentration of the surfactant in the aqueous medium is 1 to 2% by weight.

9. A substrate having a print on at least a portion thereof, said print made from the composition of claim 1.

10. The substrate of claim 9, wherein the substrate is a coated or uncoated cellulosic material, polymer substrate, glass, metal, silicon, quartz, or a combination thereof.

11. The substrate of claim 10, wherein the cellulosic material is paper.

12. The substrate of claim 10, wherein the polymer substrate is a plastic.

13. A method for detecting the presence of a plurality of single-walled carbon nanotubes deposited on a substrate from a composition comprising a plurality of the single-walled carbon nanotubes in a aqueous medium, said medium comprising a polyol and a surfactant, wherein the concentration of the nanotubes in the composition is at least 3.6 μ

g/L and at least 20% of the nanotubes are individually dispersed comprising the steps of;

a) obtaining a near-infrared spectrum of a sample ink;

b) determining if the sample ink has one or more preselected peaks in the near-infrared spectrum; and

c) identifying the ink as the single-walled carbon nanotube composition if the sample has one or more preselected peaks in the near-infrared spectrum.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the carbon nanotube composition is in the form of a film on a substrate.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the sample ink is present on a cellulosic substrate.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the cellulosic substrate is paper.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the sample ink is present on a plastic.